News
The American Academy of Pediatrics Parenting website has many COVID-19 resources to support families. These include: Parenting in a Pandemic; Working and Learning; Getting Outside; Masks for Kids; New Baby Challenges; Disinfectant Safety and Breastfeeding.
Learn about strategies to manage children with challenging behaviors. Complete ECELS Managing Challenging Behaviors in Young Children Self Learning Module (SLM). This updated online module will help you promote mental health in young children. Explore risk factors for challenging behaviors and use tools to review behaviors related to development. Share resources to help children with challenging behaviors and their families. Identify policies to help prevent suspension and expulsion of children. The per person fee is $15.00 for each module submitted. Addresses Pennsylvania’s Pre-Kindergarten Learning Standards for Early Childhood Standard Areas 16.1-3
Use the following to share facts, credible information and updates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health Website.
Human coronaviruses are a family of viruses that commonly cause mild to moderate illness like the common cold. A new human coronavirus, called the 2019 Novel Coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan City, China in December 2019. Symptoms of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus can include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Use these additional credentialed sources to share information and updates with families and staff:
- American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children Website
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website
Stay vigilant about infection control practices in your program to reduce spread of all common illnesses. Implement the daily health check recommended in Caring for Our Children Standard 3.1.1.1.
Do you have staff at your program that need Mandated Reporter professional development? Are you aware of the nationally recognized protective factors to support families? The ECELS Child Abuse and Neglect (Child Abuse Mandated Reporter) Self-Learning Module focuses on prevention and addresses the unique setting of early care and education programs. The updated and revised content is now available! The module describes your responsibilities as a mandated reporter as required by the Child Protective Services Law. The per person fee is $15.00 for each module submitted.
Go to the Professional Development Tab, Select Self-Learning Modules, and Select Newly Revised Child Abuse and Neglect (Child Abuse Mandated Reporter) Self-Learning Module (3-hours)
Did you know…
ECELS has valuable tools to help you meet the new STARS Standard LM 2.5 Program uses Caring for our Children to establish policies and practices regarding care plans for children with special medical needs as well as medication administration.
1. Use Model Child Care Health Policies, 5th Ed. form-field version to adapt a policy for your program. See Section 10-Health Plan, items E, F, and Appendix X - Medication Administration Packet. Model Child Care Health Policies, 5th Ed. is consistent with Caring for Our Children, 3rd Ed. online (CFOC3).
2. Use the ECELS Care Plan for Children with Special Needs and Process to Enroll documents.
3. Unavailble- The online self-learning module is temporarily unavailable while ECELS updates the format. The ECELS Self-Learning Module, Children with Medical and Developmental Special Needs, Inclusive Practices educates staff about caring for children with special needs as well as medication administration. (2 hours credit)
If you have questions about these tools, please send an email with your contact information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Updated 6/22/2021
Sign-up on this website to receive E-Mail Alerts from ECELS about news or key new postings on this website. Click on the orange button on the home page to access this function. In addition, child care health consultants have an opportunity to request access to a password-protected site where ECELS is posting lesson plans for qualified instructors. To access this function, select the role "Health Professional, Child Care Health Consultant, Child Care Health Advocate" at the bottom left of the home page, and then click on the button "Health Consultant Registration" for the log-in request. 3/20
Enrollment is now open for the Spring 2022 online Child Care Health Advocate Course (EARL 160-01) at Northampton Community College (NCC) (See flyer for full details). This unique 3 credit hour college course is taught remotely over 10 weeks (Updated timeline: February 24 – May 11, 2022) . Directors, lead teachers and others in the early education field learn to assess, identify, and prioritize health and safety needs of children and staff. View the course content and details in the attached documents. In partnership with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), tuition assistance is available for child care facility staff currently employed in Pennsylvania. Space is limited.